The 2012 season hasn't gone as planned for either the No.13 team in the country, the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-2, 4-2 SEC), or the Tennessee Volunteers (3-4, 0-4 SEC).

South Carolina watched its hopes of both a SEC Championship and a National Championship vanish last week after losing its second conference game in a row, a 44-11 thumping courtesy of the No. 2 Florida Gators in Gainesville.

Tennessee was equally embarrassed at the hands of No. 1 Alabama, a 44-13 drubbing that not only marked the Volunteers' third consecutive loss of the season, but their fourth loss in the past five games.

One team's fortune is going to change when the two meet on Saturday afternoon.

South Carolina's BCS Bowl chances likely hinge on its chances to win out the rest of the way, as another loss will not only kill its chances at a BCS Bowl, but of landing in one of the better bowl games at all.

Mark Schlabach has them out of the BCS picture, taking on Northwestern in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl while his counterpart, Brad Edwards, has them taking on No. 8 Oklahoma in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Lost amid all of its struggles has been the play of Tennessee's offensive line, which has allowed only three sacks all year, the second-fewest in the nation.

Lined up across from it on Saturday will be a South Carolina pass rush with 29 sacks, the third-highest total in the country.

If Tennessee can stop Jadeveon Clowney and company from getting to Tyler Bray, it'll have a shot at pulling off the upset. Should it allow the Gamecocks' pass rush to have its way, what figured to be a long day for Bray figures to be a lot more difficult—and a lot more painful.

Prediction: South Carolina 35, Tennessee 14

Bray is a quality quarterback and he's going to put some points on the board. That being said, Tennessee's defense is allowing 33.3 points a game, double the 16.5 average that the Gamecocks defense is surrendering to opposing offenses.

South Carolina wins its third consecutive game against the Volunteers, keeping its hopes of playing in a BCS Bowl alive while potentially sending Tennessee coach Derek Dooley one step closer to being replaced at the end of the season.